Wessler: Braves come away with hope, if not wins

Sunday

Nov 27, 2011 at 12:01 AMNov 27, 2011 at 4:10 PM

If you’re looking for a lot of wins from the Bradley men’s basketball team this season, you’re going to be disappointed.

I don’t say that to be mean or nasty, although every year my age edges closer to 60, my curmudgeon quotient doubles. It’s simple truth, stated before and repeated here in case you missed it: The Braves don’t have enough talent to win big and contend in the Missouri Valley.

So I continue to look for other means by which to judge the Braves this season. After watching them play six games in 13 days, here’s what I think:

Kirk Wessler

If you’re looking for a lot of wins from the Bradley men’s basketball team this season, you’re going to be disappointed.

I don’t say that to be mean or nasty, although every year my age edges closer to 60, my curmudgeon quotient doubles. It’s simple truth, stated before and repeated here in case you missed it: The Braves don’t have enough talent to win big and contend in the Missouri Valley.

So I continue to look for other means by which to judge the Braves this season. After watching them play six games in 13 days, here’s what I think:

Taylor Brown has matured a decade over the past year, and he is bringing a consistent, high level of performance every game. He was outstanding Friday against Wisconsin, despite being the focal point of a premier defense. And he came right back Saturday and did it again during the Braves’ 64-59 loss to an athletic and rugged Nevada club. Eighteen points each night from Brown; spot on his average.

Bradley has no reliable perimeter shooters. Their 5-of-14 performance Saturday, mediocre by college standards, qualified as lights-out shooting for BU. The Braves will have to find other ways to score, and that means pushing the pace and also finding points closer to the basket. Those tasks are made exponentially more difficult because there are no reliable perimeter shooters.

The Braves have the playing fast part down. They also enjoy the freedom of first-year coach Geno Ford’s offense. But they still need to learn that playing fast does not mean gunning the ball at the first hint of daylight. Good teams that play fast don’t rush shots; they pass a lot, and they pass effectively.

Bradley is developing a post game, which has been missing since Zach Andrews’ eligibility ran out in 2007. The coaching staff believes Jordan Prosser can become “a double-double guy.” Although Prosser has struggled some, six games into his sophomore season, he is averaging 9.2 points and 9.2 rebounds. When Prosser, who is 6-feet-9 and 235 pounds, gains confidence in his strength to overpower opponents and stops backing off at the rim, the Braves will have a legit post force.

Senior Anthony “Sticks” Thompson, in his fifth year on the Hilltop, has slowly begun to assert himself with serviceable minutes backing up Prosser. And Saturday, the two big men played a couple of long stretches together. That’s a look we haven’t seen in these parts for quite a while. It was relatively productive: 15 points and 12 rebounds from the two posts, and Thompson was a defensive force with six blocked shots.

“I’ve been waiting for that guy to do that,” junior guard Dyricus Simms-Edwards said of Thompson. “He had a huge impact on the game. He played with a lot of heart and intensity. He was changing shots and finishing around the rim. That’s what we need him to do. When he plays that way, he’s a big boost for us.”

The problem is, with a four-year history of being a non-factor, Thompson hasn’t given anyone reason to believe we’ll see him replicate 8 points, 6 blocks and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes anytime soon. But playing with passion is a good start and at least raises a possibility.

“Coach called me out a little bit during practice and said he was looking for me to compete,” Thompson said. “I think I did that pretty good tonight.”

Now, do it again. If that happens, then Bradley will get better.

And that’s the biggest point that needs to be made here. The Braves’ 3-3 record isn’t going to turn any heads. In fact, to a casual observer who might have noted they started 3-0, a three-game losing streak might be a turnoff. But that misses the point of what’s going on here.

Bradley is getting better.

With the exception of a dud first half — and part of a second — in a loss that shouldn’t have happened against Wofford last Tuesday, the Braves’ effort has been unfailing. I don’t want to make too big a deal out of that, because effort never should be in question. But because of the effort, the Braves continue to improve. A little here, a little there.

One example: Earlier I mentioned the importance of passing in an effective up-tempo offense. Friday against Wisconsin, Bradley did not pass nearly enough. That — and some inability to finish shots — left the Braves with only four assists against the Badgers. Saturday against Nevada, the Braves had assists on 14 of their 23 field goals.

“I see us taking steps forward,” Brown said.

“It was disappointing to come up here and go 0-2,” Simms-Edwards said. “But we’re getting better, and that’s the most important thing.”

KIRK WESSLER is Journal Star executive sports editor/columnist. He can be reached at kwessler@pjstar.com, or 686-3216. Read his Captain’s Blog at blogs.pjstar.com/wessler/. Follow him on Twitter @KirkWessler.

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